Gaussian Distribution
Chapter 2 – Part 3: Recklessness in Numbers
April 2nd, Hanabi's Residence - Hikari & Sora's Workshop, 06:27PM
Unable to react properly, Hikari sped towards the workshop, taking Sora with her. She slammed the door shut after the younger one came in, and locked herself purposely inside a metal closet—in an effort to consciously repress the ghastly scene she saw a few moments ago. I'm dreaming. Hikari closed her eyes and hid her face in her palms. Calm down. You didn't see any blood. You didn't see anyth—
"Stop doing this, sister! We have to help them out there!" Hikari could clearly hear Sora's distressed voice from behind the metal door. She refused to respond, for she felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and refuge inside the darkness of the closet, taking the pain away from the depths of her heart. I wish I could die right now.
Silence. After a few moments, Hikari didn't hear her twin sister's voice any longer. She must have gotten tired. Still, the thoughts reeled within her mind; fresh scenes of life hanging on the verge of collapse, humans at their physical and emotional limit. Ha! Ha! Ha! It was all too much for her to bear. After a few moments inside the closet, Hikari decided to sleep. Forget.
"Stop being such a brat."
Hikari's senses sprung back into action. "I'm not going out there! Just leave me alone, Hanabi nee-chan!" she screamed at the familiar voice outside the closet.
No response. What should I do? Hikari thoughts were spinning out of control. Her stomach felt like it was being churned over and under, up and down, twisting her gut like there was no tomorrow. She felt like vomiting, feeling lightheadedness as the pain surged through her back. Urk…
Her eyesight dimmed, making the jet black interior of the closet look even darker. She smiled, realizing her older sister cared, and then felt nothing.
"Ugh… wha… what happened?"
Hikari tried to focus. She felt the soft bed sheets hugging her back as she stared on the dancing shadows on the ceiling—candle flames illuminated by only a single lamp from below. "Sora… did I… no… I…"
She felt a warm hand brush her forehead. I'm not sick. The static image of Sora's smile somehow always managed to calm her down. "Where's Hanabi nee-chan?"
"I accompanied her outside a few moments ago." Hikari heard her twin sister answer. "She told me that she's reporting the incident to Ichiro-san."
Hikari flinched at the thought. I failed big sister again. She clenched her fists in disgust and bit her lower lip. Having such a condition since her childhood, she always panicked at the sight of blood, specially her own. That same fear however, grew to the extent that she hated the concept of dying and death in general. She couldn't take care of any pet at all, fearing their inevitable fate sooner or later. However…
"Do you remember Ao-chan?" Sora asked out of nowhere, cutting Hikari's thoughts.
Ao-chan. Hikari tried to forget the name she gave to her very first pet. She knew from the very beginning that the animal she wanted was sickly, but she still tried her best to take care of it, due to the request of a certain person that she held dear in her heart. Inevitably, Ao-chan died due to its failing health, despite Hikari's constant visits with the local veterinarian for its check-ups.
"We raised Ao-chan together… the three of us…" Hikari slowly answered, feeling bitter in saying the latter part. "I wonder... If he convinced me to take care of another pet, could I have outgrown my fear? I wish he did… but now, he's missing."
"Stop sulking, sis… There's another search going to be lead by Eiji-san on the 4th, remember? We can join them if we ask nicely!"
Hikari stood up slowly, and inched backwards to lean on the nearest pillar in the workshop. She actually liked the idea, and wondered why she never thought of it before. There was no other reason for her to stay behind and pity herself all day. But what about the woman they found unconscious earlier?
"Forgive me for saying this, sis… but as long as that woman is staying in our home, we cannot set foot outside! Hanabi nee-chan said so!"
Hikari frowned as she grasped the pillar she was leaning on, and managed to stand up with great effort. I can do this. She opened the workshop's door with little hesitation, and walked back to the leaving room, somewhat surprising her younger twin.
Upon arriving back at the scene she painstakingly left, Hikari examined the condition of the visitor that triggered her fears earlier.
The woman appeared to be younger than them, but still under the same age group. Hikari could clearly see the reddish-brown blood clotting at the layers of bandage and gauze on the woman's arms and legs, some managing to seep through the fabric and smear the bed sheets where they placed her earlier. Hanabi nee-chan said she didn't know her at all… but why do I have this feeling that she's not telling us the truth?
Hikari shrugged the thought out of her head. There's no way she wouldn't tell us. She reached for the damp towel on the woman's forehead and replaced it with a new one. No sooner had Hikari placed the towel back, she heard the woman moan a name. Jintetsu.
1 Hour Ago, West Amatsu Border - Business District
Subaru felt cold sweat traverse its way at the back of his neck. Where is she?
Finding someone wasn't much of a bother for the middle-aged veterinarian. Everything and everyone he needed, he always kept within the confines of his clinic. The more patients he had, the better he felt… animals, human, or otherwise. At best, he would erase the last bit of evidence related to any missing person in the government's roster. Nobody visited my clinic! It was closed! However, this 'patient' of his was an extreme exception. She escaped.
Using his insight, Subaru came to the conclusion that his organic toy couldn't have gone far… yet. He took off his work clothes and rushed out of his clinic, carrying a small leather bag with him. Act natural. Subaru ran as fast as he could, inspecting all the alleyways he came across to, but to no avail. Ayase, you've crossed the line! Twice!
He kept on running, occasionally stopping for a few moments in an effort not to look suspicious to the authorities patrolling on the business district. Relax; you're not a pickpocket! Then it dawned upon him that he could probably ask any random individual he could come across to. Anyone would do… but I don't have much time in my hands.
Subaru kept on thinking. Filing a 'missing person' report at the nearest police station was totally not an option for him. I'll look suspicious. Blaming the disappearance on someone else was difficult, or rather absurd for him as well. But it's not impossible…
He sat down at a bench at a nearby crossing, contemplating a plan to lure Ayase out of her hiding. If I kidnap someone close to her... Subaru dropped the thought. He was playing for the best possible outcome: getting Ayase back without her knowing that he's working behind the scenes. Now, all I need is bait.
The veterinarian kept on wondering. Where would she hide in the first place? Subaru resumed his search after leaving the bench, walking along the side streets while staring at the pavement. I'm going to get ruined if I—
His eyesight went totally blank. Though he didn't feel the initial impact at all, Subaru knew that he was going to fall, so he staggered to regain his balance. "Watch where you're going, will you?" Subaru heard the man in front of him say. Yeah, right…
Without warning, Subaru reached for his leather bag and grabbed an extremely sharp tool he always relied on whenever he was operating. He dashed forward, aimed for the man's left rib, and struck. How does my scalpel feel inside your serratus anterior?
Subaru laughed for a moment, knowing full well of the consequences of his actions. I don't care if there are a lot of people watching us. He glanced upwards, trying to make out the face of the person he stabbed. "Too bad… you're going to die before I even get arrested, Sir!"
"Oh, I wonder about that, doc…"
The veterinarian blinked. He couldn't have dodged that. He traced the path where his scalpel should have dug through, but it appeared to be blocked by a set of small metal pipes. The man whom Subaru intended to kill managed to deflect the scalpel as a counter. Don't tell me the impact I felt on my hand was-?
Before Subaru could even react, he felt his eyesight growing dimmer by the second. He tried to stagger once more and reached for the scalpel on the pavement, despite feeling extreme pain on his abdomen. "I'll cut the tendons on your legs next!"
After a few moments, Subaru felt someone grab him by the arm. He attempted to stab that individual as well, but another one grabbed him on the opposite arm, and pried open his fingers, making him drop the scalpel. "Enough of this mess... We're taking this lunatic into custody." Subaru heard one of the individuals announce to the crowd.
"Get off me!" Subaru felt the powerful arms of the police officers carry him away from the angry mob, which were now shouting and cursing him for his terrible actions.
I don't care if you're a respected doctor! But of all people, why would you even try to stab someone as famous as him? What has he done to you?
Want to die? then do it by yourself! Don't take anyone else with you, moron! I bet you didn't even know who that guy is!
If you ever manage to kill my favorite novelist, then I will never forgive you! Never! Never! Never!
The crowd went on shouting at the veterinarian. Moments passed by until stones and assorted items were being flung in the air, all aimed at the object of the crowd's unforgiving fury.
The man who was supposed to be dead from the earlier assault simply walked away from the scene, trying to not get caught in the ruckus. He smiled a little, somewhat celebrating his victory over death even just for a few seconds.
Upon reaching the far end of the business district, this man hummed to himself nonchalantly while swinging a golden chime in his hand. He felt grateful that it wasn't damaged at all during the encounter he had, for he used it to block his assailant's weapon.
He stopped for a few moments and read the signboard of one of his most favorite places in Amatsu.
WELCOME TO THE CRIMSON WAVE
He chuckled while entering the place. "I hope Yuu doesn't mind if I detour a bit."
April 3rd, Somewhere in Amatsu, 02:09AM
The being referred to as 'Kitsune-san' strolled quietly along the empty streets of Amatsu. It appeared to be listless, perhaps due to its lack of social connections.
Amatsu's inhabitants had known of its existence since the founding of the nation itself. Given the time it actually stayed alive, the locals revered it as a deity of some sort, erecting a shrine dedicated for its worship. Any sighting of it within the span of the summer festivities was considered to be a good sign.
"Getting bored, Mr. Fox?" a voice asked it from behind. Mister. It appeared that most of the locals actually caught up with the masked being's preference of calling itself as a male.
Kitsune turned back to face the person who called out to him. The moonlight somehow reflected the paint etched on the mask he always donned, giving no room for anyone to know who or what he actually is. Seeing me is enough. He waited for the man to come out of hiding. "Jintetsu. If you want to talk, show yourself."
The man in hiding laughed hysterically. "Why would I? You can't even take your mask off. Nobody wants to talk to someone whose face they can't see."
Kitsune shook his head. You have changed. He focused for a moment, trying to sense the man's intention. "Everyone is looking for you."
"I know. But I'm looking for something else."
The masked being immediately concluded that their conversation will be going nowhere. After a few moments of silence, Kitsune turned back and continued walking once more. I have no idea how I managed to befriend you in the first place…
"I see… so you didn't like that name. How about this? I'll just call you Ao-chan instead."
Ao-chan. The name stung to Kitsune's hearing. He paused for a moment, deliberating whether to answer Jintetsu or not.
"Too bad… that incompetent veterinarian was unable to cure your illness."
Kitsune didn't want to listen any longer. He leapt immediately to the nearest rooftop, and sped away into the darkness of the night.
What are you talking about? I wasn't sick to begin with! Thoughts flooded Kitsune's mind- images of his time with humanity ever since his conception, friendships and betrayals, love and hate. All which made him for who he was. However, Jintetsu seemed to be bent in nothing but playing with him. You made me sick! You killed me!
